Winter Weather Event - January 7, 2017

Winter Weather Event - January 7, 2017

Summary

The combination of cold Arctic air arriving in eastern North Carolina with an strengthening area of low pressure moving just offshore, led to a combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain across eastern North Carolina during the morning and afternoon hours of Saturday January 7, 2017. The forecast models began advertising the potential for wintry weather in eastern North Carolina as early as New Year's Day. The key for the event would be the eventual track of the surface low and the depth of the cold air, and if warm intrusions aloft would lead to more sleet/ice versus snow. Differences in the global models made for a rather difficult forecast in the days preceding the event. By Friday January 6, it became more obvious that a significant warm layer aloft, coupled with a surface low track closer to the coast, would lead to more ice and less snow than predicted. Ice accretion from one-tenth to one-third of an inch impacted portions of inland eastern North Carolina, with numerous accidents being reported in Washington, Martin, Pitt, Greene, Lenoir and Duplin Counties. Further south and east, a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain occurred with very minor accumulations and only trace amounts along the Outer Banks. Strong gusty winds accompanied this system as well with wind gusts as high as 56 mph at Stumpy Point in Dare County.

Webcam Images from Kinston (left) and East Carolina University in Greenville (right) showing a light coating of snow/sleet

during the morning hours of Saturday January 7, 2017 (Images courtesy WITN TV).

Snow/Sleet Amounts

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
1045 AM EST SUN JAN 08 2017

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0555 AM     FREEZING RAIN    WASHINGTON              35.56N  77.05W
01/07/2017  U0.00 INCH       BEAUFORT           NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATION ON TREES AND POWER LINES. 

0555 AM     SLEET            WASHINGTON              35.56N  77.05W
01/07/2017  U0.0 INCH        BEAUFORT           NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            SOME SLEET ACCUMULATION ON SECONDARY ROADS. 

0555 AM     SNOW             OLD FORD                35.64N  77.07W
01/07/2017  U0.0 INCH        BEAUFORT           NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            OBSERVING MIXED SNOW AND SLEET AT INTERSECTION OF 
            HIGHWAYS 17 AND 171. 

0700 AM     COASTAL FLOOD    MERRIMON                34.95N  76.64W
01/07/2017                   CARTERET           NC   SPOTTER         

            SPOTTER REPORTED WATER LEVELS 2.6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL. 

0708 AM     SLEET            PLYMOUTH                35.86N  76.75W
01/07/2017  U0.0 INCH        WASHINGTON         NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            CURRENTLY SEEING RAIN AND SLEET MIX. 

0710 AM     FREEZING RAIN    SNOW HILL               35.45N  77.67W
01/07/2017  E0.05 INCH       GREENE             NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            LESS THAN A TENTH OF FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATION. SOME 
            SLEET AND SNOW ACCUMULATION ON ROADS. 

0712 AM     SLEET            GREENVILLE              35.60N  77.37W
01/07/2017  U0.0 INCH        PITT               NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            SOME LIGHT SLEET AND SNOW ACCUMULATION ON GROUND. 

0746 AM     SNOW             6 NW GREENVILLE         35.66N  77.45W
01/07/2017  M0.5 INCH        PITT               NC   COCORAHS        

            COCORAHS NC-PT-57 

0754 AM     SLEET            GREENVILLE              35.60N  77.37W
01/07/2017  E0.5 INCH        PITT               NC   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            HALF INCH OF ICE SLEET AND SNOW ACCUMULATION 

0755 AM     FREEZING RAIN    KINSTON                 35.28N  77.59W
01/07/2017  E0.00 INCH       LENOIR             NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            EMERGENCY CO. MANAGER REPORTED FREEZING RAIN AND MINOR 
            AUTO ACCIDENTS 

0755 AM     SLEET            KINSTON                 35.28N  77.59W
01/07/2017  E0.0 INCH        LENOIR             NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            EMERGENCY CO. MANAGER REPORTED FREEZING RAIN AND MINOR 
            AUTO ACCIDENTS 

0827 AM     SLEET            VANCEBORO               35.30N  77.16W
01/07/2017  U0.0 INCH        CRAVEN             NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            SLEET REPORTED IN VANCEBORO 

0827 AM     SLEET            5 WNW KINSTON           35.30N  77.67W
01/07/2017  M0.1 INCH        LENOIR             NC   COCORAHS        

            COCORAHS NC-LR-10... MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW. 

0828 AM     SNOW             4 SSE GREENVILLE        35.54N  77.35W
01/07/2017  M0.2 INCH        PITT               NC   COCORAHS        

            COCORAHS NC-PT-21 

0838 AM     SNOW             FOUNTAIN                35.67N  77.64W
01/07/2017  M0.7 INCH        PITT               NC   COCORAHS        

            COCORAHS NC-PT-10 

0841 AM     SNOW             4 W WINTERVILLE         35.53N  77.46W
01/07/2017  M0.2 INCH        PITT               NC   COCORAHS        

            COCORAHS NC-PT-7 

0921 AM     SNOW             KINSTON                 35.28N  77.59W
01/07/2017  M0.0 INCH        LENOIR             NC   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            LIGHT DUSTING OF WINTRY MIX REPORTED IN KINSTON. 

0938 AM     SLEET            VANCEBORO               35.30N  77.16W
01/07/2017  E0.2 INCH        CRAVEN             NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN ACCUMULATING ON TREES AND 
            GRASSY AREAS IN NORTHERN CRAVEN COUNTY. 

1027 AM     FREEZING RAIN    FORT BARNWELL           35.27N  77.33W
01/07/2017  E0.00 INCH       CRAVEN             NC   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            ICE ACCUMULATING ON CRAVEN COUNTY BRIDGES... INCLUDING 
            MAPLE CYPRUS BRIDGE IN FORT BARNWELL. 

1030 AM     FREEZING RAIN    WILLIAMSTON             35.85N  77.06W
01/07/2017  E0.00 INCH       MARTIN             NC   911 CALL CENTER 

            MANY SECONDARY ROADS DESCRIBED AS SOLID SHEETS OF ICE 
            ACROSS MARTIN COUNTY. 

1045 AM     SNOW             LA GRANGE               35.31N  77.79W
01/07/2017  E0.0 INCH        LENOIR             NC   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS ON GRASSY SURFACES. 

1107 AM     SLEET            ENGELHARD               35.49N  75.99W
01/07/2017  E0.0 INCH        HYDE               NC   SPOTTER         

            WX SPOTTER REPORTED THE START OF SLEET IN ENGLEHARD 
            AREA. NO FREEZING RAIN AT THIS POINT 

1254 PM     FREEZING RAIN    ALLIGATOR               35.91N  76.11W
01/07/2017  E0.00 INCH       TYRRELL            NC   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            BRIDGE OPERATOR AT ALLIGATOR RIVER BRIDGE REPORTED 
            FREEZING RAIN 

0141 PM     FREEZING RAIN    4 S MERRIMON            34.90N  76.64W
01/07/2017  E0.00 INCH       CARTERET           NC   SPOTTER         

            OBSERVER REPORTED FREEZING RAING JUST STARTED TO 
            ACCUMULATE ON RAILS... STAIRS AND CARS. 

0241 PM     SNOW             NEWPORT                 34.79N  76.86W
01/07/2017  E0.0 INCH        CARTERET           NC   NWS OFFICE      

            TRACE OF SNOW AT NEWPORT WFO. 

0250 PM     FREEZING RAIN    SCRANTON                35.47N  76.43W
01/07/2017  E0.00 INCH       HYDE               NC   911 CALL CENTER 

            HYDE COUNTY 911 REPORTED BRIDGES BECOMING ICY WITH A 
            FEW BRIDGE CLOSURES BETWEEN HYDE AND BEAUFORT COUNTY. 

0305 PM     FREEZING RAIN    ROPER                   35.88N  76.62W
01/07/2017  E0.25 INCH       WASHINGTON         NC   911 CALL CENTER 

            WASHINGTON COUNTY 911 REPORTED A FEW TREES AND 
            POWERLINES DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY... HWY 64... HWY 45 
            NORTH... AND MACKEYS ROAD. 

0321 PM     SNOW             3 WSW FOUNTAIN          35.66N  77.68W
01/07/2017  M1.2 INCH        PITT               NC   SPOTTER         

            1.25 INCHES OF MOSTLY SNOW FROM SPOTTER NEAR FOUNTAIN. 

0325 PM     FREEZING RAIN    PLYMOUTH                35.86N  76.75W
01/07/2017  E0.50 INCH       WASHINGTON         NC   PUBLIC          

            MOSTLY ICE THROUGH EVENT. NOW SNOWING. REPORT TAKEN AT 
            HOLIDAY INN. 

0423 PM     SNOW             KILL DEVIL HILLS        36.02N  75.67W
01/07/2017  E0.0 INCH        DARE               NC   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            TRACE OF SNOW IN KILL DEVIL HILLS. 

0426 PM     HEAVY RAIN       MOREHEAD CITY           34.72N  76.73W
01/07/2017  M1.24 INCH       CARTERET           NC   SPOTTER         

0430 PM     SLEET            WILLOW CREEK            35.52N  77.53W
01/07/2017  E0.5 INCH        GREENE             NC   SOCIAL MEDIA    

            HALF INCH OF ICE AND SLEET REPORTED ALONG WITH TRACE OF 
            SNOW. 

0441 PM     FREEZING RAIN    KENANSVILLE             34.96N  77.97W
01/07/2017  E0.10 INCH       DUPLIN             NC   911 CALL CENTER 

            MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS ACROSS DUPLIN... MOSTLY NORTHERN 
            PORTIONS 

0448 PM     FREEZING RAIN    WILLIAMSTON             35.85N  77.06W
01/07/2017  E0.25 INCH       MARTIN             NC   911 CALL CENTER 

            ESTIMATED QUARTER INCH ICE ACCREATION BEFORE SOME 
            ADDITIONAL SLEET AND SNOW. 

0450 PM     SNOW             GREENVILLE              35.60N  77.37W
01/07/2017  E1.5 INCH        PITT               NC   911 CALL CENTER 

            ESTIMATED 1.5 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET. 

0524 PM     FREEZING RAIN    FRISCO                  35.23N  75.61W
01/07/2017  M0.10 INCH       DARE               NC   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            1/8 OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCRETION WITH A TRACE OF 
            SNOW/SLEET 

0549 PM     SNOW             1 N HATTERAS            35.23N  75.69W
01/07/2017  M0.3 INCH        AMZ135             NC   CO-OP OBSERVER  

            SNOW SHOWERS DEPOSITED 1/4 TO 1/3 OF AN INCH OF SNOW IN 
            WIND SHADED AREAS 

0556 PM     SNOW             6 NW GREENVILLE         35.66N  77.45W
01/07/2017  M2.5 INCH        PITT               NC   COCORAHS        

            COMBINED SNOW AND SLEET TOTAL. ROUGHLY 1.7 IN OF SNOW 
            AND ROUGHLY 0.7 OF SLEET. 

0750 PM     SNOW             GREENVILLE              35.60N  77.37W
01/07/2017  M1.0 INCH        PITT               NC   SPOTTER         

            1 INCH OF SNOW AND SLEET IN GREENVILLE 


&&

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City NC
112 PM EST Sat Jan 7 2017

...Peak Wind Reports...

Location                     Speed     Time/Date       Provider             

...North Carolina...

...Beaufort County...
1 SSW Belhaven               24 MPH    0424 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
Bunyan Raws                  22 MPH    0413 AM 01/07   RAWS                 

...Carteret County...
Fort Macon (wxflow)          49 MPH    0938 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Piney Island (nbt Asos)      39 MPH    1155 AM 01/07   ASOS                 
Beaufort (mrh Asos)          38 MPH    1004 AM 01/07   ASOS                 
3 NW Indian Beach            34 MPH    1044 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
Cedar Island Raws            30 MPH    0825 AM 01/07   RAWS                 
Otway                        30 MPH    1001 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
5 N Beaufort                 28 MPH    0631 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
4e Harlowe                   27 MPH    1135 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
Cape Carteret                25 MPH    0826 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
5 NNW Beaufort               24 MPH    0947 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
1 WNW Morehead City          23 MPH    0411 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
3 NW Indian Beach            23 MPH    1147 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
1 ESE Morehead City          22 MPH    1205 PM 01/07   AWS                  
2 NNE Indian Beach           21 MPH    1144 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
2 W Newport                  20 MPH    0632 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
0.2 SW Newport               14 MPH    1113 AM 01/07   CWOP                 

...Craven County...
Cherry Point (nkt Asos)      37 MPH    1012 AM 01/07   ASOS                 
New Bern (ewn Asos)          35 MPH    1059 AM 01/07   ASOS                 
2 SSW Havelock               32 MPH    1052 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
1 N Trent Woods              29 MPH    1117 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
6 SSE Minnesott Beach        24 MPH    0621 AM 01/07   CWOP                 

...Dare County...
Stumpy Point (wxflow)        56 MPH    0544 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Khk Resort (wxflow)          52 MPH    1100 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Oregon Inlet (wxflow)        48 MPH    1024 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Frisco                       46 MPH    1001 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
Manteo (mqi Awos)            45 MPH    1110 AM 01/07   AWOS                 
Rodanthe                     45 MPH    1129 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
Buxton (wxflow)              43 MPH    0916 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Frisco (hse Asos)            41 MPH    1145 AM 01/07   ASOS                 
Kill Devil Hills (ffa Awos)  39 MPH    0940 AM 01/07   AWOS                 
Nags Head (wxflow)           39 MPH    1207 PM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Dare Co Gnry Ran (2dp Awos)  38 MPH    1022 AM 01/07   AWOS                 
Dare Bomb Range Raws         34 MPH    1228 PM 01/07   RAWS                 

...Duplin County...
Kenansville (dpl Awos)       36 MPH    1220 PM 01/07   AWOS           

...Hyde County...
Fairfield Raws               30 MPH    0617 AM 01/07   RAWS                 

...Lenoir County...
Kinston (iso Awos)           29 MPH    0756 AM 01/07   AWOS           

...Onslow County...
1 SSE Sneads Ferry           39 MPH    1120 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
Jacksonville (nca Asos)      37 MPH    1006 AM 01/07   ASOS                 
Richlands (oaj Awos)         30 MPH    0838 AM 01/07   AWOS                 
Sandy Run Raws               26 MPH    1219 PM 01/07   RAWS                 
1 W Jacksonville             23 MPH    0700 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
Hoffman Raws                 22 MPH    1210 PM 01/07   RAWS                 

...Pamlico County...
1 WSW Oriental               32 MPH    0958 AM 01/07   CWOP                 

...Pitt County...
3 WNW Winterville            12 MPH    1155 AM 01/07   CWOP                 
2 WSW Greenville             10 MPH    1235 PM 01/07   CWOP                 

...Washington County...
Pocosin Lakes Raws           29 MPH    0917 AM 01/07   RAWS                 
2 SW Creswell                26 MPH    1234 PM 01/07   CWOP           

...Maritime Stations...
Jennettes Pier (wxflow)      60 MPH    1205 PM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Pamlico Sound (wxflow)       57 MPH    0704 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Duck Frf Research Pier       54 MPH    1006 AM 01/07   NWLON                
Real Slick (wxflow)          52 MPH    0905 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Frisco Woods (wxflow)        52 MPH    1036 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Avon Sound (wxflow)          51 MPH    0929 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Diamond Shoals Buoy          49 MPH    1150 AM 01/07   MARITIME             
Alligator River Br (wxflow)  48 MPH    0909 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Oregon Inlet                 47 MPH    1200 PM 01/07   NWLON                
Buoy 30se New River Inlet    47 MPH    1208 PM 01/07   MARITIME             
Cape Lookout                 44 MPH    1200 PM 01/07   MARITIME             
3 W Otway                    40 MPH    1019 AM 01/07   WXFLOW               
Beaufort                     37 MPH    0924 AM 01/07   NOS-NWLON                

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official.

$$